Online Store Launches For Makers Of Handmade Products

Nov. 15, 2009 - PRLog -- makers-online.co.uk was set up after father and son, David and Luke Saunders, released that individuals who produced great products but had little technical or marketing experience were forced into selling through websites which either made their products look cheap or charged a substantial joining fee without guarantee of sales. makers-online.co.uk will never charge a joining fee, or any fee for listing products, instead they take a small commission so that the makers need not risk anything to get online. They will conduct marketing campaigns so that the makers are not required to market their products themselves in order to sell. In addition makers-online.co.uk will limit the number of makers who can join to ensure that the featured products are not lost amongst many others. Initially makers-online.co.uk will cater solely for the UK market and will feature mainly handmade jewellery, such as earrings and brooches, other accessories including handbags and purses, and some homewares.

At its launch makers-online.co.uk features 12 makers, all from the UK. These include Polsta, who creates fabulous Spanish style handbags; Kate Hamilton-Hunter, a creator of fine jewellery including handmade daisy earrings and necklaces; and Its Alchemy, who specialises in ceramic pendants and brooches. Each maker was handpicked from tradeshows around the country including Harrogate home and Gift Fair, Pulse Earls Court, Top Drawer at Olympia and the most impressive and original products were selected for inclusion on the website. Many more makers were interested in joining, but it was decided to limit the initial number to keep the standard high and to ensure enough sales for each maker. As traffic increases and with it sales, more makers will be recruited.

The site design is simple but elegant which symbolises the business goals: the only images the site features are those of the products, this ensures that the focus of the user is on those products - in short, the site is about the products and not itself. This approach to web design is not common in the industry but makers-online.co.uk feel that this simplicity provides a better user experience, while also being fast to load and easy to maintain, ensuring costs can remain low and value can remain high for the customer.

David Saunders, 59, is a serial entrepreneur having previously founded and run successful businesses importing Russian porcelain, manufacturing toiletries and candles. Having spent many years at trade shows pitching products from stands, he has much in common with the makers he hopes to help. Luke Saunders, 30, is an experienced software developer, having worked in the UK, US and Austria as a consultant for many internet startups, he has seen first hand how to build and market a successful website, and also how not to do it.

The daisy necklace from Kate Hamilton-Hunter mentioned above can be seen here:
http://www.makers-online.co.uk/products/necklaces/small-d...

A ceramic pendant from Its Alchemy can be seen here:
http://www.makers-online.co.uk/products/necklaces/floral-...

The website can be seen in full here:
http://www.makers-online.co.uk